The Air Force has received another order from the Environmental Protection Agency to clean up a contamination site. This one is Air Force Plant 44, operated by Raytheon in Tucson, Ariz. EPA also recently directed USAF to speed up work at McGuire AFB, N.J. EPA has told the Air Force and Raytheon that within 45 days they should provide to the agency and the public “an accelerated schedule and work plan with specific dates for conducting remedial action” at Plant 44. EPA says the current extraction and treatment system at #44 “is not effectively containing the contaminated groundwater plume from the facility.” (Read the full EPA order here.)
Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III outlined Dec. 4 the vital importance of U.S. defense investment keeping pace with that of China before issuing a statement warning that such competition would suffer “irreparable” damage if Congress opts for a yearlong continuing resolution, a real possibility being discussed by lawmakers after…